£30,768 per annum, pro rata6 months fixed termIf you are an experienced Wikipedia editor and have a good understanding of Wikimedia and GLAM projects, this post offers the opportunity to make a considerable contribution to the public's knowledge of the Library's unique collections and AHRC- funded projects.

Working closely with the Web Co-ordinator and specialist curators across the Library, your expertise will be instrumental in reviewing, improving and creating content on Wikipedia relating to British Library collections and AHRC-funded projects. Using your strong communication and organisational skills, you will promote and establish collaboration between staff and Wikimedia volunteers, in addition to arranging Wikipedia training sessions and events at the Library.

From the Job Profile attached to the link, it seems as though this is a British Museum funded initiative. The successful candididate will therefore be paid

• To develop new articles and edit existing entries relating to AHRC projects and British Library items and collections on Wikipedia, in conjunction with curators and other colleagues.• To provide training and best-practice guidance on Wikipedia editing and Wikimedia volunteer engagement for British Library staff by means of presentations and direct instruction.

amongst other things.

Should we welcome this? Perhaps we should. It increases the degree to which institutions from a wider sphere engage with Wikipedia, and increases the leverage that critics of Wikipedia have upon the project.

This post has been edited by Peter Damian: Thu 9th February 2012, 9:15pm

Ah now I understand. This is an initiative by Richard Power of the British Library, who seems to be an IT sort of person rather than a scholar, who is also User:Helical gear http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Helical_gear on Wikipedia. Helical Gear, indeed - wheels within wheels.

Should we welcome this? Perhaps we should. It increases the degree to which institutions from a wider sphere engage with Wikipedia, and increases the leverage that critics of Wikipedia have upon the project.

I would say that, despite all the disgruntlement over WP's lunatic mess of a "system of governance",it's quite disturbing that major educational institutions have chosen to stick their heads in the sandwhen the subject of Wikipedia comes up. Just wishing it would go away, or ignoring it, doesn't stoptheir students from using the damn thing in coursework.

The only major problem with this is simple. Their paid Wikipedia liaison will probably not be givenadmin power (which should be a requirement, I would think). Meaning that person will be subjected to stupid reversions and blocks by power-drunk admins who know nothing about the subject matter.I foresee serious problems here.

If there are going to be paid experts on Wikipedia, with the WMF's full knowledge and approval, the expertsshould be better treated than the random editor. But the way the "community" is today, those expertswill be treated like shit, and possibly even forced out, regularly.

Inevitable result: very bad publicity, and major educational institutions publicly giving up on Wikipedia, saying the atmosphere is too hostile and bizarre, making the addition of content impossible.

Which means the WMF will have to forcibly institute a caste system (which they have already, but like to pretend they don't). The experts will need to be "untouchable" by idiot administrators.Or, they will have to purge the admin ranks of its crazies.

If that were presented to the admins as a fait accompli, how do you think they would respond?......

£30,768 per annum, pro rata6 months fixed termIf you are an experienced Wikipedia editor and have a good understanding of Wikimedia and GLAM projects, this post offers the opportunity to make a considerable contribution to the public's knowledge of the Library's unique collections and AHRC- funded projects.

Working closely with the Web Co-ordinator and specialist curators across the Library, your expertise will be instrumental in reviewing, improving and creating content on Wikipedia relating to British Library collections and AHRC-funded projects. Using your strong communication and organisational skills, you will promote and establish collaboration between staff and Wikimedia volunteers, in addition to arranging Wikipedia training sessions and events at the Library.

From the Job Profile attached to the link, it seems as though this is a British Museum funded initiative. The successful candididate will therefore be paid

• To develop new articles and edit existing entries relating to AHRC projects and British Library items and collections on Wikipedia, in conjunction with curators and other colleagues.• To provide training and best-practice guidance on Wikipedia editing and Wikimedia volunteer engagement for British Library staff by means of presentations and direct instruction.

amongst other things.

Should we welcome this? Perhaps we should. It increases the degree to which institutions from a wider sphere engage with Wikipedia, and increases the leverage that critics of Wikipedia have upon the project.

"The main purpose of the position is to ensure a successful programme of collaboration with British Library staff and curators supporting volunteers with a passion for sharing open knowledge about the library's collections and projects," said Ashley Van Haeften, who looks after the Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums (Glam) programme at Wikimedia UK. "I have met many curators that are astonishingly passionate about openly sharing the knowledge that the library preserves."

It won't just be sitting at a computer screen all day, though. The successful candidate will also be tasked with organising events at the library too -- along with training sessions on how to use Wikipedia. The Arts and Humanities Research Council are funding the programme for six months with a salary of £30,768 pa, and Van Haeften says that Wikimedia UK plan to help out with associated event expenses.

This post has been edited by Peter Damian: Sun 19th February 2012, 10:32am

> Hi,> > Re: http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/02/19/briti...n-in-residence/> > Feedback from the British Library is that number of completed> applications received so far is "modest". If you know anyone who might> be interested please give them a reminder to apply in time. The> application close date is this Thursday (23rd February) and the> application form can be found at:> https://gs10.globalsuccessor.com/fe/tpl_bri...6752,4512982148> > As far as I know this is the best paid Wikimedian in Residence full> time position we have seen to date, and is specifically aimed at> attracting experienced Wikimedians.> > Cheers,> Fae

This post has been edited by Peter Damian: Mon 20th February 2012, 8:01pm

> Hi,> > Re: http://blog.wikimedia.org/2012/02/19/briti...n-in-residence/> > Feedback from the British Library is that number of completed> applications received so far is "modest". If you know anyone who might> be interested please give them a reminder to apply in time. The> application close date is this Thursday (23rd February) and the> application form can be found at:> https://gs10.globalsuccessor.com/fe/tpl_bri...6752,4512982148> > As far as I know this is the best paid Wikimedian in Residence full> time position we have seen to date, and is specifically aimed at> attracting experienced Wikimedians.> > Cheers,> Fae